From the Richmond Dispatch, 10/21/1861, p. 2, c. 3

Anniversary of the
Battle of Yorktown. – The public
mind has been so engrossed with the war of the present era that it occurred to
very few of our citizens that Saturday last was the eightieth anniversary of the
battle of Yorktown, until the stirring music of the band, and the parade of the
Public Guard, recalled memories of an event which has never passed by unnoticed.
The day has been regularly celebrated in Richmond by a grand parade of the city military, who arched through the streets
with waving banners and all the pomp and circumstance of a general muster, and
terminated the proceedings with a salute of musketry and cannon. At present,
however, all the volunteer soldiers are “off to the war,” where they have found
more serious experience in military life than appertains to holiday displays.
The demonstration on Saturday served to keep up the old custom nevertheless.
Captain Gay marched his company through the streets, and halted on Capitol
square, where a variety of manoeuvres were skillfully executed, and a few rounds
of musketry fired, to the manifest approbation of the assembled spectators. The
Armory Band performed some good music on the occasion, introducing some of those
favorite airs, which call to mind the good old times.